Supporting device



Dec. 31, G J HQUTS SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1954 0 .2 7 2 I G I F 0 3 fl 7 I r 0 2 n f FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR a. J. HOUTS BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING DEVICE Application May 3, 1934, Serial No. 723,714

8 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices and more particularly to adjustable devices for supporting associated groups of strands or the like not otherwise interconnected.

The power wires present in telephone exchanges are frequently both numerous and of varying di-' ameters and in some instances at present are carried between the various pieces of apparatus of an exchange by being sewed or lashed or otherwise more or less permanently attached to the horizontal or vertical racks ordinarily provided to carry the communication cables, the latter being ordinarily all of a size within a group.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and reliable device for supporting and retaining in place a group of otherwise not interconnected strands which may be of varying diameters, such for example as the insulatedpower conductors in telephone exchange structures.

With the above and other objects in view, one embodiment of the invention may present a pair of rigid bars with meansrto attach the same to one or more rack or frame members in adjustably spaced relation to each other, the bars being ordinarily held substantially parallel to each other. Two clamping devices may be mounted on the bars to terminally delimit a portion of the space laterally delimited by the bars, one or both of the clamping devices being adjustable. If now a group of insulated conductors be led through the ordinarily rectangular space thus enclosed laterally between the bars and terminally between the clamping devices, and the latter be forced together, the conductors will be squeezed together and-held not only against movement in the plane of the bars but also .against movement perpendicular thereto.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the same reference numerals are applied to identical parts in the several figures and in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in section of a supporting device constructed in accordance with the invention and attached to a pair of frame members;

Fig. 2 is a broken reverse plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modified form;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a third form, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached perspective view of one of the clamping members.

lation thereto.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 20 indicates a pair of members of a frame or rack such as is used in telephone exchanges, here thought of as horizontal for convenience although they may be oriented in any direction.

7 A bar 2| rests against the under sides of the two members 20 and has its ends turned upwardly as at 22 to clasp the member pair 20 and thus be held against longitudinal displacement. A second and cooperating bar 23 ispositioned sub-, stantially parallel to the bar 2| and in spaced re- The bar 231s supported by screws or bolts 24 passing through appropriate perforations in either end of the bar 23 and screwed into clamp members 25 supported on the frame members 2B. Clamp members 25 are here shown as angularly bent but may have any suitable form.

Bar 2| may be thought of as loose and held in place primarily by the bar23 and the interposed conductors or may equally wellbe a spacing member or cross tie of the frame rigidly attached to the members 20 by welding or otherwise.

As shown a pair of adjustable clamping devices 26 is mounted on the bar 23, although they might also be equally well carried by the bar2'l. Each of these clamping devices may be simply and easily formed integrally from a single piece of sheet metal as best shown in Fig. Sand comprises a basal portion formed to substantially conform to and slide on the bar 23, a clamp proper 21 and a retaining spring pawl 28.

The upper surface of the bar 23 is toothed transversely by knurling or otherwise as at 29 for coaction with the down'pressingfree ends of the two spring detents or pawls 28.

To illustrate the use of the device, let it be assumed that a group of conductors 30, which may vary in diameten'is to be carried-substantially parallel to the frame members 20.

The components of the device are assembled on the frame and around the conductors as shown. The bolts or screws 24 are tightened until the conductors are pinched lightly between the bars 2! and 23. The clamps 21 are then forced together as far as necessary to grip the conductors firmly between them. It may often be convenient to apply an auxiliary clamping device such as a C clamp or a carpenters temporarily to the group of conductors closely adjacent to the bars 2| and 23, while adjusting the clamps 21, this auxiliary clamp being removed afterwards.

When adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, the device holds the group of conductors, which may comprise any desired number of individual strands, against any displacement either laterally or longitudinally of the strands. At the same time the device is easily releasable or removable to permit addition or removal of strands.

It is not necessary to have two clamps 21, although in some instances it may be preferable. Neither is it necessary that bars 2| and 23 be accurately parallel in all cases. Thus in Fig. 3, a group of conductors 3!! of varying sizes are positioned in order of magnitude of diameter so that their combined cross section tapers from left to right and in consequence bar 2| is only substantially parallel to bar 23. There is only one clamp 21 the place of the other being taken by the left hand bolt 24. The bar 2| is not hooked over the members 20 at its ends but is perforated to slide loosely on the bolts 24.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 4, elements 2|], 2| and 25 are like those of Fig. 2. Bar I23 is now a round rod threaded over its central portion to coact with one or two clamping nuts 3| which operate to drive the one or two clamp members I2I toward the center of the rod. Each clamp member is appropriately perforated at its lower end to slide freely on" the rod I23 and is slotted at its upper end to receive and be guided by the bar 2| and to be free to move longitudinally of the bar 2|. The bolts I24 are not rotatable relatively to bars 2| and I23 and clamps 25, but are drawn up by nuts 32, and are perforated or hooked at their lower ends to support bar I23.

The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are merely illustrative and may be departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, means to force the members toward each other to grip a group of strands in one direction, a clamp member adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and means to lock the clamp member in adjusted position on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

2. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, screw means to force the members toward each other to grip a group of strands in one direction, a clamp member adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and ratchet means to lock the clamp member in adjusted position 'on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

3. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, screw means to force the members toward each other to grip a group of strands in one direction, a clamp member adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and screw means to lock the clamp member in adjusted positionon the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

4. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, means to force the members toward each other to grip a group of strands in one direction, a pair of clamp members adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and means to lock the pair of clamp members in adjusted position on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

5. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, screw means to force the members toward each other to grip a group of strands in one directio'n, a pair of clamp members adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and ratchet means to lock the pair of clamp members in adjusted position on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

6. In a device for supporting a group of strands, a principal supporting member fixed in position, a secondary supporting member substantially parallel thereto and adjustable transversely thereof to grip a group of strands therebetween in one direction, and a pair of clamp members mounted on one of the supporting members, one of the clamp members being adjustable transversely of the motion of adjustment of the secondary supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

7. In a device for supporting a group of strands, a principal supporting member fixed in position, a secondary supporting member substantially parallel thereto, means to move the secondary member toward and from the primary member to grip and release a group of strands therebetween in one direction, a clamp member adjustably mounted on one of the supporting members, and means to lock the clamp member in adjusted position on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another direction.

8. A device for supporting a group of strands comprising a pair of principal supporting members, means to force the members together to grip a group of strands in one direction, a clamp memer mounted on one of the supporting members with freedom to move thereon transversely of the mutual motion of the supporting members, and means to force the clamp member to move on the supporting member to grip the group of strands in another directnm.

GUY J. HOUTS. 

